Kids involved in the park hang ribbons on the fence at the park. Each ribbon has a single word that describes how they feel about it.

Lindsey Smith
/ Michigan Radio

The two acre park is a step towards the city’s goal to have every Grand Rapids resident live within ¼ mile of some kind of greenspace. That goal has been difficult to achieve since nearly all of the city’s land has already been developed. Plus, city government has been cutting down on spending for years.

13-year old Ashley Jones remembers the old vacant lot where the park is now. She refered to it as a ‘hot mess’ before the renovations.

“It looked crazy. It had the prickles when you walked it would stick on your shoes. There was no shade or nothing. And it was kind of boring.”

Not anymore. Two dozen kids zip through a water tunnel, giggle waiting for the next water spout to pop out of the ground, or the bucket of cool water to splash on their heads.

14-year old Aisha Childrey lives just a few blocks away.

“Not only is it beautiful, it’s a safe environment. Like there’s not any bad gangs or anything around here and I really like seeing kids having a good time and smiling – it just makes my day.”

Water from the splash park will be re-used in the park’s landscape irrigation system.